"Here We Go", *NSYNC is back. The iconic boyband – consisting of Justin Timberlake, Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez – reunited on stage for a brief appearance at the 2023 MTV VMAs on Sept. 12.
The quintet presented Taylor Swift the best pop award, with the singer-songwriter saying, "What’s going to happen now? They’re doing something and I need to know what it is. You’re pop personified."
And *NSYNC is definitely doing something. The group is set to release its first single since 2002 called "Better Place" on Sept. 29. Ahead of its release, get to know a brief history on *NSYNC's formation and disbandment.
*NSYNC's story began in 1995.
Chris Kirkpatrick began looking to put together a boyband (which was to be funded by Backstreet Boys' financier and eventual con artist Lou Pearlman) in Florida, according to an interview in People Magazine. After making some calls, Kirkpatrick connected with Justin Timberlake, who at the time was known for his appearances on "The Mickey Mouse Club." Timberlake then recruited his Mickey Mouse Club co-star JC Chasez to join the all-male group. Kirkpatrick had previously worked with Fatone at Universal Studios in Florida and the two reconnected. Fatone secured the fourth spot in *NSYNC. Bass came into the picture after the group's original bass singer dropped out, the group said in the People interview.
The group made its first public performance at Disney World's Pleasure Island. Johnny Wright was hired to manage *NSYNC, and the rest is history.
The group initially promoted in Europe and released its debut lead single "I Want You Back" in Oct. 1996 in Germany. *NSYNC would make its U.S. debut with the same song nearly two years later.
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*NSYNC released its fourth studio album "Celebrity" on July 24, 2001 with three singles: "Pop," "Gone" and "Girlfriend." The same year, the group embarked on the "PopOdyssey" tour in promotion for the album.
In 2002, the "Celebrity Tour" would take place from March to April. Following this tour, *NSYNC would go on a temporary hiatus. But the band did not release new music until now.
In his 2007 memoir, Bass revealed *NSYNC's official break up was in 2004.
Since its disbandment, *NSYNC has reunited several times over the last two decades. The band had its first performance in years at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards with a medley of "Girlfriend" and "Bye Bye Bye."
In 2018, *NSYNC reunited again when they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2019, Bass, Fatone, Chasez and Kirkpatrick made an appearance during Ariana Grande's headlining Coachella set. They performed a medley of "Break Up with Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored," "It Makes Me Ill" and "Tearin' Up My Heart." Timberlake was unable to attend since he was finishing his "The Man of the Woods Tour."
As for its official reunion, *NSYNC is set to release its first new song in over 20 years on Sept. 29. The single is featured on the the upcoming "Trolls Band Together" movie, where Timberlake voices Branch.
A reunion tour has not been confirmed or announced for *NSYNC.
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